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If you - or your partner - go into hospital

In hospital for up to 28 weeks

If you or your partner are ill or in hospital for up to 28 weeks you can still get Working Tax Credit.

If you get Disability Living Allowance or Attendance Allowance, this might stop because you’re in hospital. But any extra Working Tax Credit you get because of your disability won't be affected.

You must still satisfy the rules for qualifying, or your Working Tax Credit will stop.

Your Child Tax Credit should remain the same as long as you are still responsible for any children.

• Working Tax Credit when you can't work due to illness

In hospital for more than 28 weeks

If you or your partner are ill or in hospital for more than 28 weeks, tell the Tax Credit Office. You should do this as soon as possible and within one month. You can contact the Tax Credit Office by calling the Tax Credit Helpline.

Even if your Working Tax Credit stops, you may get other benefits.

Your Child Tax Credit should remain the same as long as you are still responsible for any children.

• Contact details for the Tax Credit Helpline

You are in a couple and have childcare costs

You may be able to get extra Working Tax Credit to help with your childcare costs if:

• one of you is in hospital - it doesn't matter for how long
• you pay childcare costs
• you - or your partner - works 16 hours or more a week

• Help with childcare costs - do you qualify for extra tax credits?

If your child goes into hospital

As long as you are still responsible for your child, you will still get Child Tax Credit for them. You don't need to tell the Tax Credit Office about them being in hospital.

If you were paying for childcare and what you pay changes or stops, this may affect how much tax credits you can get overall. You should tell the Tax Credit Office by calling the Tax Credit Helpline as soon as possible - and within one month.

• Childcare changes - effect on Working Tax Credit

• Contact details for the Tax Credit Helpline

If your child develops a long-term illness or disability

You may be entitled to more Child Tax Credit if your child becomes disabled. If you are entitled to Disability Living Allowance for your child, tell the Tax Credit Office by calling the Tax Credit Helpline straight away.

• Children with disabilities - can you get extra Child Tax Credit?

• Contact details for the Tax Credit Helpline

Help with healthcare costs

If you get tax credits and someone in your family goes into hospital, you could get help with the cost of healthcare and travel.

• Find out about getting help with health costs

More useful links

• How your tax credits entitlement is worked out

• You have a disability - can you get extra Working Tax Credit?

• Other help you might qualify for if you get tax credits

• Child Benefit for children in hospital or residential care

• Hospital stays and your benefits (disabled people section)

Useful contacts

• Tax Credit Helpline - contact details